Sena and BJP are unwilling to take responsibility for the BEST bus fare hike decision and are passing the buck on each other.
The Shiv Sena which is power in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation had last year deferred the BEST bus fare hike due to the assembly election is trying to wash its hands off after it’s decision to hike the fares has been criticised by opposition. Both Sena and BJP are unwilling to take responsibility for the fare revision and are passing the buck on each other. Sena has shifted the onus on BJP to bail out the loss making BEST. The BEST bus fare hike will come into effect from February. Thus politics has intensified between both the parties over the fare hike issue.
The BMC has approved a fare hike of Rs 2 in phases to strengthen the financial condition of cash-strapped BEST undertaking. Bus fares will increase by Rs 1 from February 1 and Re 1 from April 1. The BEST administration had proposed the hike in its budget presented in October last year.
Since last 10 years the BEST administration has sought financial assistance from the state government to bail out the ailing transport undertaking. They have sought exemption from payment of taxes and also demanded abolition of toll for BEST buses. The losses incurred by the undertaking have been increasing on account of rise in fuel and spare parts cost. The outstanding debt has increased upto Rs 2351.81 as on December 1, 2014. The organisation has to bear a burden of Rs 27 crore for granting concessions to blind, school students, freedom fighters.
Shiv Sena MLA Suresh Prabhu had forwarded a letter to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and mentioned that the state government has not provided any aid to the loss making transport organisation. The state government of Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka has offered subsidy to their transport undertaking. On the other hand, the state government has recovered Rs 72 crore from the BEST by levying various types of taxes like service tax, motor vehicles tax and sales tax. Prabhu also demanded that the state government should abolish various types of taxes levied on the BEST to save it.
Earlier last year, BEST avoided a fare hike after receiving a grant of Rs 150 crore from the Shiv Sena-BJP ruled BMC in an election year.
MNS Corporator Sandeep Deshpande said, “The Shiv Sena “cheated” the people by not approving the fare hike last year in view of the Assembly election.”
“This fare hike had been proposed last year. But the BMC sat on it because they did not want to impose a burden on commuters in the election year” said Deshpande.
The BEST has a fleet of over 4,000 buses and ferries 40 lakh commuters every day.
Even commuters are not happy with the BEST fare hike as many of them are likely to switch to other modes of transportation.
Arun Patil a Kandivali resident said, “Right now the minimum fare for travelling from Kandivali station to Grovels is Rs 6 which is going to increase up to Rs 8 in April. Why should I pay Rs 8 and wait for buses when I can easily opt for a share autorickshaw which will cost me Rs 7.”
